15 important-ish factors to consider when choosing a college

When choosing a college, some factors are important, whereas others are important-ish. Don’t ignore the latter.

Not all college considerations are deal breakers, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored entirely. One factor may be one student’s tipping point, whereas that same thing may not cause a different student to think twice.

These may not be the most important considerations, but here are 15 important-ish factors to consider when choosing a college.

1.) Does the school have a club or organization you want to be a part of? This could include a religious group on campus, intramural sports or a weird club like the squirrel feeding club at the University of Michigan. Don’t miss out on something you really want to be a part of by choosing a school that doesn’t offer it.

2.) During your campus visit, did you spot a sufficient amount of people you could be attracted to? Don’t act like this isn’t on your mind.

3.) What’s the campus layout like? Walkable, sensible, annoying? Don’t underestimate this: Your ability to not ditch class because it’s too much of a hassle to get there is at stake.

4.) Even though a handful of states have started to raise college budgets, according to the Wall Street Journal, there are still departments facing cuts. If you’re considering a school with a program that could be cut while you’re there, perhaps you should reconsider.

5.) What are the school’s demographics? This could be race, ethnicity, religion, gender, etc. This typically doesn’t make much of a difference but it could if, say, you want to attend a racially diverse school or want your gender to be in the minority so the dating competition’s not so tough.

6.) Are there a lot of places to sit on campus, including benches, grassy fields, etc.? These spots are conducive to lounging with friends, people watching, doing homework and perhaps even writing a few lines of poetry.

7.) Does the town support the college and the college support the town? Meaning, does the college have relationships with employers in the city, where you can network and find internships and jobs? A school that merely gives you a degree may not be enough. Many colleges attempt to go beyond that. Make sure this is one of them.

8.) How is the school on a liberal to conservative scale — taking into account the students, professors and school in general? Does that matter to you?

9.) Is dorm life at the school what you’re looking for? A year in the dorms is considered a fun part of the college experience, but if there are no dorms that seem to fulfill your desires, then another college may better suit you. Some schools let you see or stay in the dorms during a visit. Another good idea is to read dorm reviews by students who lived in them on College Prowler.

10.) You’ll be on campus a lot, so you’ll inevitably eat there at some point. How are the dining halls and food options on or near campus? This is especially important if you have a specific diet, like gluten-free or vegan.

11.) Are the students strong, resourceful and smart? Once the zombie apocalypse inevitably occurs, zombies will flock to your campus. If there are enough strong, resourceful, intelligent students at your school, your campus has a shot at winning this thing.

12.) How are the professors? You can actually get an idea of this before attending by browsing through the school’s website and reading a number of reviews on RateMyProfessors.com. A teacher can make or break a class. Teachers can make or break a college.

13.) Any animals running around campus? The University of Nevada, Reno, for example, has aggressive geese and two swans who call the lake in the center of campus home. And of course there are those squirrels at the University of Michigan. Viewing wildlife while hiking to the library could brighten your day.

14.) Does the school not only have one major you’re interested in, but two or three? Students change majors all the time. According to the New York Times, half of students at Pennsylvania State University change their major, and 61 percent change their major at the University of Florida. Don’t overestimate your decision-making abilities, but instead choose a school with plenty of good options.

15.) Does this college fulfill your essential expectations as far as you can tell? Some things on this list may not be essential to you, but you should make sure wherever you decide to go to college that it at least fulfills the essentials for you.

Choosing a college, while a potentially wise investment in your future, is difficult for most. But you can choose wisely if you keep both important and important-ish factors in mind.

Jon Fortenbury is an Austin-based freelance writer who specializes in higher education. He’s been published all over the place, ranging from the Huffington Post to Yahoo Finance. He blogs at jonfortenbury.com and his Twitter name is @jonwrites. He is a featured contributor on Schools.com.